Self-locking reinforced divided carton



J y 22, 1969 o. M. STEGNER 3, 56,

SELF-LOCKING REINFORCED DIVIDED CARTON Filed March 9, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 //V VENT 01?, 00060455 M STEGNEE arwf m July 22, 1969 I D. M. STEGNER 3,456,862

SELF-LOCKING REINFORCED DIVIDED CARTON Filed March 9, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 //V VEA/TOZ, [)OUGL/ISS M 5756MB? W QM /7 T TOIZIVEYS July 22, 1969 D. M. STEGNER SELF-LOCKING REINFORCED DIVIDED CARTON 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 9, 1967 //VI/E/V7'0/Z, 001/61455/1. STEG/VE/Z 5y 9 4 W July 22, 1969 D. M. STEGNER SELF-LOCKING REINFORCED DIVIDED CARTON Filed March 9, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 fiOUGZ/ISS M. 5756MB? ATTORNEKS July 22, 1969 D. M. STEGNER 3,456,362

SELF-LOCKING REINFORCED DIVIDED CARTON Filed March 9, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent SELF-LOCKING REINFORCED DIVIDED CARTON Douglass M. Stegner, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Baltimore Box Company, Baltimore, Md., a corporation of Virginia Filed Mar. 9, 1967, Ser. No. 621,894 Int. Cl. B65d /48 US. Cl. 229-27 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An improved self-locking reinforced divided carton and a unitary blank from which the carton is assembled is disclosed. The unitary blank is constructed such that the carton has a double thickness divider therewithin and has hand holes centrally located on the end walls, which hand holes do not communicate with the interior of the carton. As a result of this construction the carton is particularly strong for help in stacking and is resistant to weakening by moisture leaking through it. Further, contamination of the contents is eliminated since there are no openings communicating with the outside.

This invention relates to the art of containers, and more particularly, it relates to a self-locking reinforced divided carton.

As utilized herein, the term self-locking refers to a type of carton which can be readily erected by manual operation in the field, and which does not require any special processing or gluing machines or equipment. The term reinforced as used herein, refers to a carton which, by its constructional features, possesses high strength characteristics, particularly, high stacking strength. The term divided, as used herein, refers to a carton having a portion disposed interiorly thereof which serves to create separate compartments therewithin.

Divided cartons have been known and utilized in the art for some time. However, in most instances, such divided cartons utilized a divider section which was separate and distinct from the remainder of the carton. In such prior art constructions, separate inserts, commonly known as H-pads, had to be provided as separate items which were manually inserted into a carton. One of the serious drawbacks and deficiencies with this type of prior art arrangement was that the carton manufacturer had to produce two entirely different sections, namely, the carton blank section and the insert blank section. Then, each of these separate sections had to be shipped to the ultimate user who, in turn, had to separately erect the carton and the insert, and had to then assemble the two. It will thus be appreciated that prior art types of divided cartons were necessarily more expensive for a manufacturer to produce, because of the separte operations required to produce the carton blank and the insert blank, and that more manipulative steps were involved for an ultimate user to properly erect the carton and to insert the divider therewithin.

Considering another aspect of the present invention, it should be apparent that a self-locking carton which can be field erected has a great many advantages and beneficial features in comprison to conventional cartons. That is, the ordinary or conventional carton Was supplied by the manufacturer to the user in the form of a carton blank. The user then had to utilize a machine for assembling the blank into a carton and for properly gluing the flaps so that the carton would maintain its erected position. Even aside from the cost of purchasing and operating such a carton erecting machine, a serious drawback with this type of conventional carton was that the erecting machines were not versatile enough to readily 3,456,862 Patented July 22, 1969 accommodate different sizes and shapes of cartons. Hence, if a shipper utilized only one size and shape of carton, a box-making machine might be practical for his purposes, but if such a shipper utilized several different sizes and shapes of cartons, he could not readily utilize a single type of machine. Moreover, it will be appreciated that in many instances, it is desirable to have a carton which can be fully erected in the field, where no carton gluing machine is available. For this reason, the selflocking type of carton, which does not require any separate gluing operation to erect the same, is desirable and beneficial.

It is recognized, of course, that various types of selflocking cartons have been proposed in the prior art. However, the basic difficulty with all such previous selflocking cartons resided in their low strength characteristics. Indeed; in many instances, if a prior art self-locking carton was loaded with a heavy item, or was subjected to any rough handling, the carton would become unlocked and the item would fall out and very often encounter damage. Additionally, it must be recognized that most cartons, when packed, are at some point during shipping or storage, placed in a position where one such carton is stacked upon another. The stacking strength of such prior art self-locking cartons was extremely low and there was a tendency for the sides or ends of such cartons to bulge outwardly, thereby permitting weight to be applied directly to items or articles packaged Within the cartons.

With all of the foregoing information in mind, it is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to overcome the difliculties and deficiencies associated with piror art forms of cartons and containers, and to provide in their stead, a new and improved container.

Another primary object of the present invention is to provide a divided carton having reinforced strength characteristics and being of the self-locking type.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a divided carton wherein the divider section is integral with the remainder of the carton, so that both the carton section and the divider section can be fabricated of a single improved blank.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a self-locking carton which can be readily erected in the field without the need for any special processing equip ment, and which, when erected, remains locked in such condition, even during rough shipping and handling.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reinforced carton having improved strength characteristics so that no bulging will occur, even during stacking operations, and so that no bottom deflection will occur, even during shipping and handling.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved carton and carton blank construction which utilizes a minimum amount of material and which can be manufactured with a minimum amount of manufacturing steps and processes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carton construction wherein hand holes are provided for enabling the carton to be readily lifted and transported, but wherein such hand holes are separated from the interior of the carton so that the product within the carton still remains protected, even during handling.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carton which can be erected manually with a minimum amount of manipulative effort and which can thus be assembled in the field quickly and easily, without requiring that the person erecting the carton have any special training or skills.

Other objects, advantages and salient features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Refer-ring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a blank in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is plan view of the blank of FIGURE 1, as the same is shipped by the manufacturer to a user;

FIGURES 3 and 4 are perspective views illustrating the carton blank of FIGURE 1 being erected into a completed carton;

FIGURES 5 and 6 are perspective views, partially broken away, to show the erected carton with the top open;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the erected carton with the top closed;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 88 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a carton having a modified form of top closing means;

FIGURE 10 is a plan view of a blank in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 11 is a plan view of the blank of FIGURE 10, as the same is shipped by the manufacturer to a user;

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of the carton blank of FIGURE 10 erected into a final carton, with the top closed;

FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of the carton eliminating the top flaps and using a modified top; and,

FIGURES 14 and 15 are side elevational views showing the top of FIGURE 13 being applied to the carton.

With continued reference to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIGURE 1 a carton blank generally designated 10. Such carton blank includes what can nominally be defined as an upper edge 12 and a lower edge 14, such edges being of generally parallel alignment with one another. Three spaced parallel fold lines 16, 18 and 20 extend across the blank, all such fold lines being in substantially parallel alignment with each other and with the upper and lower edges 12 and 14. That portion of the blank 10 between the upper edge 12 and the first fold line 16 is generally designated 22 and serves to form the top flaps of the carton. That portion of the blank 10 between the first and second fold lines 16 and 18 is generally designated 24 and serves to form the side and end panels of the carton. That portion of the blank 10 between the second and third fold lines 18 and 20 is generally designated 26 and serves to form the bottom flaps and locking flaps of the carton. Finally, that portion of the blank 10 between the third fold line 20 and the lower edge 14 is generally designated 28 and serves to provide the carton divider sections.

By way of exemplification, rather than limitation, the carton of the present invention is intended to be of generally rectangular configuration. Accordingly, the side panels of the carton are somewhat greater in size than the end panels thereof. In the carton blank 10 of FIGURE 1, the panel portion 24 is divided by four transversely extending fold lines 30, 32, 34 and 36 which extend substantially perpendicularly between the fold lines 16 and 18. That portion between the fold lines and 32 defines one side panel 38. A similar side panel 40 is formed between the fold lines 34 and 36. One end panel 42 is set off between the fold lines 32 and 34 and is hence disposed between the side panels 38 and 40. The other end panel 44 is formed into two halves, with one half 44a being hingedly connected to the fold line 36 and the other half 44b being hingedly connected to the fold line 30.

The top flap section 22 of the blank 10 is provided with spaced cut lines 46, 48 50 and 52 aligned respectively with the fold lines 30, 32, 34 and 36. These cut lines serve to set off the-rebetween the various top flaps of the carton. That portion between the cut lines 46 and 48 forms a top flap 54 hingedly connected with side panel 38. Similarly, that portion between the cut lines 50 and 52 forms a top flap 56 hingedly connected with the opposite side panel 40. That portion between the cut lines 48 and 50 forms a top flap 58 hingedly connected with the end panel 42. Finally, the top flap 60 which is hingedly connected with the end panel 44 is formed into two halves, with the half 60a being hingedly attached to the end panel half 44a and the half 60b being hingedly attached to the end panel half 44b.

A glue flap 62 is integrally atached with the end panel and top flap tabs 44b and 60b and a suitable glue coating 64 is provided thereupon. When the blank 10 is oriented in the manner shown in FIGURE 1, the glue 64 is on the opposite or underside of the glue flap 62. For convenience of description, the side edge of the opposite end panel half 44a and its attached top flap half 6011 can be designated 66.

Considering now the bottom and locking flap portion 26 of the blank .10, it will be seen that cut lines 68, 70',

72 and 74 are formed therein, aligned respectively with the fold lines 30, 32, 34 and 36. That portion between the cut lines 68 and 70 forms a bottom fiap 76 which is hingedly attached with the side panel 38. In a similar manner, that portion between the cut lines 72 and 74 forms a bottom flap 78 which is hingedly attached to the opposite side panel 40.

Referring now to the portion of the section 26 disposed between the cut lines 70 and 72, it will be seen that an additional cut line 80 is formed therein substantially aligned with the center or medical axis of the end panel 42. That portion of the third fold line 20 which extends between the cut lines 70 and 72 is completely severed or cut, as shown at 82, to thereby form two independent locking flaps 84 and 86, each of which is hingedly attached to the end panel 42. The third fold line 20 is also cut or severed outwardly from the cut line 68, as shown at 88, to thereby form a locking flap hingeably attached to the end panel half 44b. Finally, the fold line 20 is cut away outwardly from the cut line 74, as shown at 92, to thereby form a locking flap 94 hingedly attached 'to the end panel half 44a. The opposite side of the locking flap 94 is slightly notched out, as shown at 96, so that when the end panel halves 44a and 44b are assembled, the locking flaps 90 and 94 will function independently. of one another.

Considering the divider section 28 of the blank 10, it will be seen that four spaced fold lines 98, 100, 102 and 104 are provided, such lines being respectively aligned with the fold lines 30, 32, 34 and 36. That portion between the fold lines 98 and 100 forms a central panel 106. Similarly, that portion between the fold lines 102 and 104 forms another central panel 108. That portion between the fold lines 100 and 102 includes a transversely extending cut line aligned with the cut line 80. Hence, the central panel 106 carries at one side thereof end flap 112 hingedly attached along the fold line 98 and at the opposite side thereof end flap 114 hingedly attached along the fold line 100. The central panel 108 carries at one side thereof end flap 116 hingedly attached along the fold line 102 and at the opposite side thereof end flap .118 hingedly attached along the fold line 104. The outer edge of the end flap 118 thus is aligned substantially with the outer edge of the locking flap 94.

Finally, hand holes can be provided in the end panels of the blank 10. One such hand hole is formed in the end panel 42 and is designated 122. The hand hole 124 for the end panel 44 includes a notched portion 124a in the end panel half 44a and a notched portion 124b through the glue flap 62 and into the end panel half 44b.

As is customary, the blank 10 is formed from a single sheet of fibrous material, as, for example, corrugated cardboard. Then, the manufacturers joint is formed so that the blank can be shipped to the ultimate user. Referring to FIGURE 2, it will be seen that the manufacturers joint is created medially of the end panel 44 and its attached flap 60 by disposing the glue flap 62 beneath the end panel half 44a and the top flap half 60a. Thus, it is clear that end wall 42 is flat and continuous unlike end wall 44 which has the manufacturers joint medially thereof. When the gluing of the glue flap is completed, the blank will essentially be folded in half, as shown in FIGURE 2. If desired, the cut lines 82 and 92 can be made discontinuous to thereby leave a small tab or unsevered portion 126 between the locking flap 94 and the end flap 118, and to leave a similar tab between the locking flap 84 and the end flap 114. The provision of the tabs prevents the end flaps 114 and 118 from swinging outwardly, as shown in dashed lines in FIGURE 2, while the assembled blank is being transported. However, these tabs 126 can be readily severed merely by a manual tearing operation when it is desired to erect the carton.

When the user receives the assembled carton and desires to erect the same into a completed carton, he first severs the tabs 126, if the same are provided. Then, as shown in FIGURE 3, the assembled blank is folded until the side panels 38 and 40 are in spaced substantially parallel alignment and the end panels 42 and 44 are likewise arranged, with the end panels and side panels being substantially perpendicular to one another.

Then, continuing to FIGURE 4, the locking flaps 84 and 90 are folded inwardly into the interior of the box until they substantially contact the end panels thereof. Then, the end flaps 112 and 114 are folded over upon the central panel 1106 and this entire divider section is folded into the interior of the box. In fact, even the bottom flap 76 is folded upwardly until the same is flush with the side panel 38 of the box or carton, in the manner shown in FIGURE 5. Then, the same procedure is followed on the opposite half of the box. That is, the locking flaps 86 and 94 are folded into the interior of the carton, the end flaps 116 and 118 are folded over onto the central panel 106, and the entire divider section is inserted into the interior of the carton. Thereafter, the divider section and bottom flap are 'folded with respect to one another. That is, as shown in FIGURE 5, the bottom flap 78 is disposed in substantially perpendicular relationship to the side panel 40 and the central panel 108 is folded into substantially parallel alignment with the side panels 38 and 40. It will thus be seen that the central panel 108 extends medially along the center of the carton and divides the same substantially in half whereby two separated compartments are formed in the interior thereof. When the bottom flap 78 and central panel 108 have been thus folded, the locking flaps 86 and 94 are folded downwardly until the same are in abutting and overlying contact to the bottom flap 78. Then, the end flaps 116 and 118 are folded outwardly so that the same extend substantially along the end walls 42 and 44. In this manner, the locking flaps 86 and 94 are locked between the bottom flap 78 and the end flaps 116 and 118.

Then, in a similar manner, the bottom flap 76 is folded to a position whereat the same is substantially coplanar with the bottom flap 78 and the central panel 106 is disposed in abutting contact with the central panel 108. Thereafter, the locking flaps 84 and 90 are folded downwardly into contact with the bottom flap 76 and the end flaps 112 and 114 are folded outwardly to overlie these locking flaps. As a result, the locking flaps 84 and 90 are locked in position between the bottom flap 76 and the end flaps 112 and 114.

The completed carton, as shown in FIGURE 6, with the top flaps open, is generally designated 130. As can be seen from that figure, as well as from FIGURE 8, the two central panels 106 and 108, extend perpendicularly upwardly in the center of the carton and serve to divide .the same into separate compartments. Naturally, this central divider is of a double thickness formed of the material of the central panel 106 and that of the central panel 108. The end flaps 114 and 116 extend in opposite directions from the central divider panels and are disposed in abutting contacting relationship with the end panel 42. Hence, this end of the box is formed of a double thickness created by the thickness of the end panel 42 combined with the thickness of the end flaps 114 and 116. The same is true at the opposite end panel 44 of the carton whereat the end flaps 112 and 118 extend thereacross in abutting relationship. As aforementioned, each end flap overlies a single locking flap and holds the same pressed tightly against the bottom flaps. To reiterate, the end flap 112 holds the locking flap in contact with the bottom panel 76 and the end flap 114 holds the locking flap 84 in contact therewith. The end flap 118 holds the locking fiap 94 in contact with the bottom panel 78 and the end flap 116 holds the locking flap 86 in contact therewith. Thus, at least in part, the bottom panels of the carton are formed of a double thickness, at least at the four corners thereof. Even if great weight is applied to the bottom of the box, the bottom flaps 76 and 78 cannot possibly unlock, since they are prevented from doing so by contact between the bottom of the various end flaps and the top of the various associated locking flaps. If desired, the central panels 106 and 108 can be provided with slots extending partly downward from the top thereof, and transverse divider panels 132, as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 6, can be inserted thereinto. It is thus possible to divide each of the two main compartments in the divided carton into a series of smaller compartments, if need be.

The carton 130 of the present invention is particularly useful for transporting plastic bottles for containing liquids of various types. The reinforced construction of the carton assures that the same has a very high stacking strength. That is, all of the walls of the carton, except the two side walls 38 and 40, are partly or entirely of double thickness. This is particularly true along all four .vertically extending corners of the box, and therefore,

each carton can withstand a great amount of compressive force without bulging or otherwise deforming. Even in the event that a sidewardly directed pressure or force was applied to one of the side panels of the carton, the double thickness central divider therewithin would prevent such a force from being transmitted entirely throughout the extent of the carton.

An additional important feature of the present invention resides in the fact that the hand holes 122 and 124 are substantially blocked from communication with the interior of the carton 130. This can best be seen from FIGURES 7 and 9 wherein it is shown that the end flaps inside the carton serve to cover the hand holes. Thus, for field packaging of produce, such as lettuce and the like, this expedient proves valuable since it prevents the heads of lettuce or other items within the carton from being damaged when a handler grabs the carton by the hand holes.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, the two top flaps 58 and 60 are first folded inwardly, then the to flaps 56 and 54 are folded over to entirely close the carton 130. These top flaps can be held closed by tape, staples, or even gluing, if this is desired. However, as aforementioned, it is extremely desirable to provide a carton which can be entirely erected and closed without any additional fabricating steps such as taping, gluing or \stapling, and therefore, to this end, it is possible to provide the carton of the present invention with a selflocking top, as shown in FIGURE 9. In this figure, a pair of spaced cuts 134 and 136 extend inwardly from the edge of the top flap 56 to set off therebetween a tab portion 138. Although not shown, a similar tab portion is formed on the top flap 54. Each of these tabs is insertable between the central panels 106 and 108 forming the carton divider. In order to permit passage of these tabs into the central divider portion, the top flap 58 is provided with a slot 140 extending axially of the divider and the top flap 60 is likewise provided with a similar slot. Thus, to close a carton of this type, the user need only fold down the two top flaps 58 and 60 until the slots therein align with the central divider. Then, with the tabs folded substantially perpendicularly to the top flaps 54 and 56, the user lays these flaps downward to a flat position and inserts the tabs between the central panels 106 and 108. The tabs remain locked therewithin by virtue of frictional engagement and the carton thus remains closed. However, if desired, the top can easily be opened to allow inspection of the contents therewithin and can then be quickly and easily closed.

With the embodiment of carton shown in FIGURES 1 through 9, the manufacturers joint or end seam extends medially of the end panel 44 and the top flap 60 secured thereto. In certain instances, such as when ornamentation, advertising or other imprinting of the exterior of the box is desired, the presence of this seam or manufacturers joint along the middle of the box is undesirable. Thus, in these instances, the embodiment of box shown in FIG- URES lO-12 can be utilized. With this embodiment, the end seam or manufacturers joint is formed along a corner of the carton, and is so formed in a manner to be now described, so that the side and end faces or panels of the box are smooth and even.

Referring now to the modified blank as shown in FIGURE 10, it will be seen that the side panels 38 and 40, the end panel 42 therebetween, and all of the top and bottom flaps, and divider section, attached thereto, are identical with FIGURE 1. However, in FIGURE 10, the entire end panel 44 is hingeably attached to the side panel 40 along the fold line 36. That is, instead of being formed in two separate halves as it was in FIGURE 1, the end panel 44 of FIGURE 10 is formed as a single continuous panel. The glue flap 62 is hingeably attached to the side panel 38 along the fold line 40, with the glue 64 being on the reverse side thereof. It will be noted that the glue flap 62 of FIGURE 10 does not continue all the way up into the top flap as it did in FIGURE 1, and hence, there is a slight savings in material with the blank of FIGURE 10.

The tab 126 between the locking flap 94 and the end flap 118, as previously described in connection with FIG- URE 2, is shown on the blank in FIGURE 10. Likewise, a similar tab 127, described but not shown in FIGURE 2, is illustrated in FIGURE 10 between the locking flap 84 and the end flap 114. When the blank 10 of FIGURE 10 is folded into assembled position, and the glue flap 62' is adhered by the glue coating 64 to the inside of the end panel 44, the blank assumes the position shown in FIG- URE 11. The tabs 126 and 127 prevent the end flaps 114 and 118 from swinging outwardly to their dotted line position during handling or transit.

For convenience of description, the outer edge of the end panel 44 is designated 142. As can be seen from FIGURE 11, and perhaps better from FIGURE 12 w erein the assembled carton 130 is shown, this edge 142 which forms the edge of the end seam or manufacturers joint extends along a vertical corner of the carton 130. Hence, the entire end panel 44' is flat and continuous, and the same can readily be imprinted or decorated. Although the hand holes are not illustrated on the blank 10' shown in FIGURES 10 and 11, it will be understood that such hand holes can be provided, as shown in FIGURE 12.

To reiterate some of the important aspects of the present invention, it will be readily understood from the foregoing detailed description that the blank 10 or the alternate blank 10 are each fabricated of a single continuous sheet of corrugated cardboard or other similar material. The manufacturer himself need only provide one assembling operation, namely, the fastening of a single glue flap 62 or 62' to form a single manufacturers joint. The blank can then be shipped to the ultimate user. When such a user desires to erect the assembled blank into a carton, such as the carton 130 or 130', he need not utilize any tools whatsoever, nor does he need any machinery or fastening media such as glue, tape, staples or the like. Instead, the user need merely square the end and side panels of the box, fold the locking flaps into the box, fold the entire divider section and bottom flap into the box, then square or properly position the bottom flap in a position perpendicular to the side and end panels. When the bottom flap is properly positioned in this manner, the central panel will extend centrally upward in the interior of the box to create a central divider. The person assembling the box then folds the locking flaps between this central panel and the side panel downwardly until the same abut against the inside of the bottom flap. Then, merely by swinging the end flaps on the central panel outwardly, until the same overlie the locking flaps, the proper locking of this divider section is completed. The same sequence is followed with the opposite divider section, and as a result, assembly or erection of the box is completed.

It will be appreciated that the box as produced is fully and tightly locked in its erected position. Regardless of the weight acting on the bottom flaps of the box, no unlocking of the box can occur due to the interaction of the locking flaps with the lower edge of their overlying end flaps..It will also be appreciated that the carton thus produced is highly reinforced and is of great strength. The two end panels of the carton are of double thickness due to the thickness of the end panel itself and that of the two adjacent end flaps extending along the interior thereof. The top of the carton is of double thickness due to the presence of four interfolded top flaps. The bottom of the box is of at least partial double thickness because of the locking flaps extending over the bottom flaps. Finally, the central divider in the middle of the box is of double thickness due to the two central panels which are disposed in abutting relationship with one another. Hence, the only portion of the box which is not of double thickness is the two side panels 38 and 40. This highly reinforced construction of the carton of the present invention, as will be appreciated, is accomplished without the provision of any separate liner or reinforcing member which must be separately inserted thereinto after assembly. Instead, it is the very construction of the carton itself which provides for its highly reinforced strength characteristics. When hand holes are provided in the end panels of the carton, the presence of the end flaps extending across the interior of the end panels serves to assure that such hand holes are blocked from direct communication with the interior of the carton or the items packaged therewithin.

Naturally, it will be understood that various changes and modifications can be made in the invention shown and described hereinabove without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. For example, the carton need not be limited to rectangular configuration with the side panels being larger than the end panels. Also, it will be seen that in the illustrated and described embodiments set forth hereinabove, each of the bottom flaps was equal to substantially one half the thickness of an end panel, so that the interior divider section was disposed in the center of the carton and served to divide the same into a pair of equally sized compartments. However, if desired, one of the bottom flaps could be of greater width than the other. Thus, for example, one of the bottom flaps could be equal to two thirds of the width of an end panel and the other bottom flap could be equal to one third the width thereof. When a blank having such characteristics was assembled into a carton, the central divider in the interior of the carton would be offset from the middle thereof and would serve to define two separate compartments, one having a volume equal to approximately two thirds of the carton and the other having a volume equal to approximately one third thereof. Other similar changes within the spirit and scope of the present invention will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains.

Finally, if attention is directed to FIGURE 13, there is illustrated therein a further modified carton This carton is similar to both the carton 130 and the carton 130' except that the top flap section 22 is eliminated from the blank. In other words, the top flaps 54, 56, 58 and 60 are eliminated so that the carton 130 is more or less an open-topped tray. A cap type cover generally designated 180 is used as a top closure for the carton 130". Thls cover includes a fiat top panel 182 having a peripheral skirt 184 depending therefrom. When the cover 180 is telescoped onto the carton 130", the skirt extends along the exterior thereof.

This type of construction is particularly useful in packaging loose or bulky materials which must be shaken down after being introduced into the carton. For example, if nails, screws, chains or other like items are to be packaged, the carton 130" is initially overfilled so the items, designated I in FIGURE 14, extend above the top thereof. Then, the cover 180 is applied to the carton so that the underside of the top panel 182 rests on the items. The skirt 184 has sufficient length to assure that it will at least partially telescope over the sides of the carton. Then, when the carton is suitably shaken, by a conventional shake-down packing device, the items I will settle within the carton thereby permitting the cover to lower to the position shown in FIGURE 15 wherein the underside of the top panel 182 abuts against the top of the carton sides.

It will be appreciated that when a cap type cover 180 is utilized for packaging items to be overfilled, the skirt 184 is made longer than necessary. For example, if the skirt was to ordinarily be 3 inches in length, it would be increased to 6 inches when used for packaging overfilled items. Thus, when the cover is initially applied to the carton as shown in FIGURE 14, the lower 3 inches of the skirt 184 telescopes over the carton while the upper 3 inches thereof extend above the carton. Then, after shaking down has been completed, the upper 3 inches likewise telescope over the carton.

Moreover, while the embodiment shown in FIGURES 13l5 is primarily adapted for packaging loose items such as nails or the like which tend to intertwine with each other and thus not settle initially within the carton, such embodiment is necessarily limited to use with such items. As another example of its utility, such embodiment can be used in the packaging of ice packed poultry. Such poultry is placed within the compartments within the carton 130" and ice is then poured over the poultry. The cover 180 is then applied and as the ice settles within the carton, the cover 180 lowers until it is fully telescoped onto the carton in the manner shown in FIGURE 15.

After reading the foregoing detailed description, it should be apparent that the objects set forth at the outset of the specification have been successfully achieved by the present invention. Accordingly, what is claimed is:

1. An improved self-locking reinforced divided carton comprising:

a pair of spaced parallel side panels;

a pair of spaced parallel end panels;

said end panels being joined with and extending between said side panels;

a pair of bottom fiaps connected with said side panels and extending inward therefrom with the inner edges of said bottom flaps being disposed in confronting relationship;

a pair of carton divider sections, connected respectively with each of said bottom flaps at said inner edges thereof;

each carton divider section including a central panel and a pair of end flaps, connected respectively with opposite end edges of the central panel;

said central panels extending upwardly from said b tom flap confronting inner edges to thereby divide the interior of said carton;

said central panels being juxtaposed in contiguous substantially abutting relationship with each other, thereby forming a double thickness divider within said carton;

said end panels each including locking flap means extending inwardly in overlying relationship to said bottom flaps and projecting on opposite sides of said central panels; one of said end panels portions; the other of said end panels being flat and continuous; said carton divider section end flaps being folded substantially perpendicularly to said central panels to overlie said locking flap means and thereby retain said carton locked in erected position; said end flaps also extending along the interior of said end panels to thereby provide said carton with reinforced double thickness ends, each formed by an end panel and an end flap from each of said divider sections; each of said locking flap means including a pair of closely spaced locking fiaps having a slot therebetween, with the width of said slot being substantially equal to said double thickness divider within said carton; said carton having given width equal to the distance between said side panels thereof; each of. said bottom flaps having a width substantially equal to one-half of said given width; each of said two end panel portions having a width substantially equal to one-half of said given width; one of said two end panel portions having glue flap means extending therefrom and juxtaposed with a portion of the other of said two end panel portions medially of the end panel; said side panels and said end panels having a common given height, and said central panels and said locking flap means also having said given height; and said end panels having hand hole means for enabling facile lifting and carrying of said carton, said hand hole means being centrally disposed with respect to said side walls and being blocked from communication with the interior of said carton by said end flaps. 2. A self-locking reinforced divided carton as defined in claim 1 further including a pair of top flaps integrally attached to said side panels and extending inwardly therefrom, said top flaps each including a tab portion insertable between said juxtaposed central panels to thereby maintain said top flaps closed.

3. An improved unitary carton blank for a self-locking divided carton, said blank comprising:

a continuous flat sheet of fibrous material; said sheet having spaced parallel upper and lower edges; said sheet having spaced parallel first and second fold lines means extending thereacross in parallel relatlonship to said upper and lower edges, with said first {old line being disposed closest to said upper fold mes; said sheet portion between said upper edge and said first fold line forming the carton top flaps; said sheet portion between said first and second fold lines defining said carton side and end panels; said sheet portion between said first and second fold lines having three spaced transverse fold lines extending perpendicularly between said first and second fold lines to set off two side panels and two end .panels; said sheet portion between said upper edge and said first fold line having a series of cut lines, each cut line being aligned with a transverse fold line, with the cut lines serving to set off top flap means; said sheet portion further including a third fold line,

parallel to said first and second fold lines, and dispgsed between said second fold line and said lower e ge; said sheet portion between said second and third fold lines forming the carton bottom flaps and locking flaps;

being formed of two end panel said sheet portion between said third fold line and said lower edge forming said carton divider section;

said sheet portion between said second and third fold lines including a series of cut lines extending between said second and third fold lines, one such cut line being formed in alignment with each side edge of each of said end panels, and one such cut line being aligned with the center of each of said end panels;

said third fold line including a slit portion coextensive with the width of each end panel whereby each end panel of said carton will carry a pair of independent locking flaps;

said sheet portion between said third fold line and said lower edge being transversely cut at locations aligned with the center of each of said end panels and having fold lines aligned with the fold lines defining the side edges of said side panels whereby said carton divider section includes a pair of central panels, each having integrally attached foldable end flaps along the sides thereof;

a glue flap means being integrally connected with a side edge of said sheet between said first and second fold lines; and

said blank being erectable into a carton having opposed parallel side panels connected by opposed parallel end panels with said carton divider section being disposed interiorly of said carton and said end flaps overlying said locking flaps to maintain said carton locked in erected condition.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,034,679 3/1936 Kundts 229-27 X 2,596,331 5/1952 Ferguson 229-27 2,965,277 12/ 1960 Prieto 229-27 3,145,902 8/1964 Nolen 229-27 3,228,581 1/ 1966 Stegner 229-27 3,258,152 6/1966 Cameron 229-27 X 20 DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Primary Examiner 

